changing trends in politics

The Jubilee party leadership has been urged to ensure youths get a bigger share of the party’s leadership positions by setting aside seats to be held by young people.

A Youth leader who is also the chairman of the Friends of Youth and Women organization Allan Mburu has said it is vital for the party’s leadership to provide a conducive environment for youths to vie for party positions.

He said despite the party having set aside positions for a youth and women leader at both the national and county level, there is need to have more youths occupy leadership positions for better representation.

He said that this will make it possible for young people to lead alongside seasoned politicians and acquire skills that will enable them to engage the government effectively.

He also noted that it will be difficult for youths to effectively compete with experienced politicians who are wealthy saying that the party should provide a more enabling environment for youths to clinch more seats.

The youth leader said ensuring more youths are incorporated in the leadership of the party will provide a smooth transition during elections as older politicians retire from politics.

The jubilee party is expected to hold its party elections after the national delegates’ convention that will be held on September 9.

Mburu was speaking at Kambirwa shopping centre during a meeting to educate youths and women on how to empower themselves financially by starting small entrepreneurships.

He lauded the Jubilee party for its decision to employ the services of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission during its nominations and urged young people not to shy from vying for political seats as nominations will be free and fair.

He also urged the government to speed up the recruitment of IEBC commissioners and consider youths’ women and persons with disabilities to ensure there is equity.

The electoral commission has issued new campaign finance rules limiting spending by political parties, party contributors and aspirants during the 2017 electioneering period beginning in February.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has capped presidential contenders’ spending at a maximum of Sh5.2 billion, Members of Parliament Sh33 million and governors, senators and woman representatives to Sh432 million.

Spending by members of county assemblies has been capped at Sh10.3 million.

The new rules have also limited political party expenditure during the elections to a maximum of Sh15 billion and single-source contributors to political parties to Sh3 billion.

In a statement the IEBC said “Article 88 (4)(i) of the Constitution mandates the electoral body to regulate the amount of money that may be spent by or on behalf of a candidate or party in respect of any election.”

“This requirement has been effected through Kenya Gazette notice (No. 6307 of 8th August, 2016). The electoral legal framework under the Constitution contemplates free and fair elections based on equality, non-discrimination and empowerment of key participants.

“Electoral campaign reforms, therefore, are meant to afford equal opportunity for eligible persons to compete in elections by not allowing money or resources to be a key determinant of the outcome,” read the statement.

The 2013 Election Campaign Financing (ECF) Act was enacted on December 24, 2013 but the law came into force on January 10, 2014.

Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero is the new entrant to declare his desire to vie for the country’s top seat come 2022.

Expressing his surety of retaining the gubernatorial seat for the county in the next general election, the incumbent said his eyes will then be fixed on the country’s top seat.

Kidero said it is a high time Kenyans elect leaders who can change their lives and not just vote for people who have no convincing manifestos but hide behind tribal curtains.

“It is evident that many leaders want positions but unfortunately some are out just to have them for their own benefit,” said Kidero.

Kidero was speaking during the second anniversary for the table banking women empowerment in Westlands which is part of the Joyful women Group led by Rachel Ruto, wife to the Deputy President William Ruto.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya are some of the other governors from the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) camp who have also expressed their 2022 bid for the presidential seat.

Details of a series of closed-door meetings that hatched a deal for the peaceful exit of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials have now been laid plain.

This comes barely two days after the commissioners expressed their readiness to go home when they appeared before Parliament’s Joint Select Committee.

It is now emerging that the poll officials held the committee at ransom and that reaching the deal involved a lot of persuasions since the parliamentary team had no tangible evidence against the electoral officials.

Co-chairs of the select team – Senators JAMES ORENGO (Siaya) and KIRAITU MURUNGI (Meru) – reportedly went beyond law and political interest in a bid to strike a deal.

According to a Member of Parliament who declined to be named, the IEBC officials left office under their own terms and not the committee’s.

He further stated that commissioners scored big time and did the select committee a huge favour by voluntarily leaving office.

Reports indicate that the Hassan-led team was secretly pushing for their exit despite maintaining a hard-line stance in public.

Apparently, the commissioners wanted to ensure that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto were solidly behind them and that they got their entitlements if they decided to leave office.

They also reportedly wanted to leave clean meaning they did not want any criminal proceedings brought against them.

The big breakthrough came when Attorney General Githu Muigai and Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said that the government will use cash from the Contingency Fund to pay the commissioners.

It is then that they struck a deal with the very same committee they had earlier accused of undertaking an illegal process.

Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa continues to receive support to contest for the Nairobi governorship.

Two central Kenya leaders also endorsed him, saying Wamalwa is up to the task.

Speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of CDF-funded projects in Gatanga constituency, Athi Water Services Board chairman Wachira Keen and Gatanga MP Humphrey Njuguna Kimani said the minister is best suited to unite the city’s multi-ethnic residents.

“Contrary to popular belief, people from the Mt Kenya community are always willing to work with all communities in order to ensure meaningful development in the country and we believe Wamalwa is the best candidate to demonstrate that,” said Wachira.

Kimani also urged the Water secretary to help end water shortages in Gatanga.

Wamalwa however, said he will announce whether he would vie for an elective post next year adding that it was time for Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and him to strengthen their communities.

He announced that President Kenyatta would soon commission a modern Sh5 billion water treatment plant in Kigoro.

Some of the CDF projects that the minister commissioned include two markets at Mukarara and Chomo and a new bus for Gatanga Primary School.